a/an the no article

a/an the no article

a/an

(singular = 1)

• a = nouns that start with consonant

• an = nouns that start with vowel

• (a, e, i o, u)

a *Example

a book

a boy

a house

a dog

>>> NO PLURALS = no more than 1

a books = INCORRECT

an *Example

an eraser

an ant

an ice cream

an orange

>>> NO PLURALS = no more than 1

a oranges = INCORRECT

a *Exceptions

a: Usamos “a” antes de las palabras que comienzan por la letras “u” o “eu” cuando estas son pronunciadas como el sonido figurado “yu”.

a university

a euro

an *Exceptions

an: “An” se usa con palabras que comienzan por “h”, pero sólo cuando esta no se pronuncia.

an hour

a hospital

a/an USES

• to express general idea: no specific

• Jack has a computer. (no brand) / He has an apple.

• To express one (quantity)

• I want a pencil = I want one pencil.

a/an USES

• Se usa para referirnos a una cosa por primera vez. La próxima vez que nos refiramos a esta cosa, utilizaremos el artículo determinado.

• I live in an apartment. The apartment is big.

• Se usa para hablar del oficio de alguien o de afiliación política.

• Maria is a doctor. Juan is an architect. I am a democrat.

The article

• Used when the reader knows which noun is being referred to because the noun has been mentioned before.

• Some schools have a career counsellor. The counsellor has an important role in preparing students for work.

  
  

• Used with unique phenomena which are easily identified.

• The sun, the moon, the Vatican, the prime minister.

When I dont not need an article?

• We don't use an article:

  When we refer to all members of a group. For example:

• Tigers are endangered.

• With uncountable nouns when they refer to general concepts.

• Water is essential for life.

When I dont not need an article?

• Names of people, books, movies, plays (unless it is part of the title). Proper Nouns

• Avatar is a science-fiction movie.

• Many geographical features: towns, cities, states, countries, lakes, single islands, continents, mountains.

• Melbourne is in Victoria.

• Sports, games and meals.

  He plays football. I like chess. They’re serving fried chicken tonight.

Write

Why in the first question you use the?

Why in the second question you dont use the?

Write

Why in the first question you use the?

Why in the second question you use a?

Poll

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